Are you a veteran on a wait list? Here's who to contact

Is the Department of Veterans Affairs making mistakes on war-related disability claims at a higher rate than previously acknowledged? The Center for Investigative Reporting reviewed a year's worth of VA inspector general's audits and found an error rate of 38 percent in a sample of 1,200 high-profile claims. The VA, which acknowledges it makes mistakes on 14 percent of disability claims, says the targeted audits are not an accurate representation of the agency as a whole. But veterans' appeals clog the system, lengthening the delays for all veterans. Nationwide, the average wait time for an answer on a claim is 260 days, two months longer than a year ago.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is the federal agency responsible for ensuring the care of veterans and their families. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and its 58 regional offices nationwide administer a variety of benefits, from home loan guaranty and the GI Bill to disability and health care benefits.

The House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform is the watchdog agency for the U.S. government. It ensures tax dollars are spent appropriately and holds the federal government accountable to taxpayers. In July, the committee held a hearing to address the steps taken by the VA to eliminate the disability claims backlog. Click here to see the committee's membership and contact information. For testimony and reports from the July hearing, click here.

Who can help disabled veterans navigate the claims system?

Founded in 1920, Disabled American Veterans has a membership of 1.2 million nationwide and advocates for more than 200,000 disabled veterans each year. The organization is headquartered in Kentucky, with national service offices in all 50 states to help veterans push their claims through the system. To find local chapters, click here. You can also contact the National Service Office nearest you.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the largest and oldest advocacy group for veterans of the war on terror. Membership is free, and more than 200,000 veterans of these wars have joined the organization.

The Wounded Warrior Project runs programs and events to help support disabled veterans returning from combat. It provides benefits assistance, social programs and training to help veterans adjust and re-enter their communities with ease and dignity. To contact the Wounded Warrior Project for help with your claim, click here.